News and events

Iziko South African National Gallery exhibition

19 October was the opening at Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, of the exhibition Listening to Distant Thunder: the art of Peter Clarke. Professor Elizabeth Rankin from the Art History Department wrote the accompanying book and curated the exhibition, together with her South African colleague Philippa Hobbs.

This was the first major retrospective exhibition for the artist, now 82, who succeeded in pursuing his career as a painter, printmaker and writer in South Africa, despite being denied access to art schools because he was black, forcefully removed from his home, and subject to many other indignities of the apartheid system. He has been a wonderful role model and mentor for young black artists.

In the photograph:
Hayden Proud, exhibition co-ordinator; Marilyn Martin, past director of Iziko South African National Gallery; Peter Clarke, the artist; Rooksana Omar, CEO of Iziko Museums; Philippa Hobbs, Elizabeth’s co-author and co-curator for Listening to Distant Thunder; Elizabeth Rankin; Riason Naidoo, Director of Iziko South African National Gallery.

Thanks to Carina Beyer, Iziko Museums, for the photographs.

Visit by Art History postgraduate students and staff to Gibbs Farm

On 20 June, Ian Wedde arranged a visit for postgraduate students and staff in Art History to Gibbs Farm to view the fine contemporary sculpture collection there.

The collection includes work from major international artists such as Anish Kapoor, Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Serra, as well as such New Zealand figures as Neil Dawson.

Wet weather did not dampen the spirits of the group who tramped around for much of the day with gusto, ending their visit by feeding the resident giraffes.

New photography book featuring the work of Auckland artist Fiona Pardington

Fiona Pardington: The Pressure of Sunlight Falling, Edited by Dr Kriselle Baker and Professor Elizabeth Rankin.

Recently, an opening was held for Fiona Pardington: The Pressure of Sunlight Falling at the Govett-Brewster Gallery in New Plymouth.

The book features photography by University of Auckland artist Fiona Pardington and is edited by Dr Kriselle Baker and Professor Elizabeth Rankin of the Department of Art History.

The photographs and book, published by Otago University Press, are on the subject of French life casts of the peoples of the Pacific made in the mid-nineteenth century.

More information on this book